Sport

CRICKET: Under-par villagers must go bat to the drawing board

BIDDESTONE skipper James Mitchell concedes his side need little analysis of where their Glos/Wilts Division campaign is coming unstuck at the moment as their woes with the bat continued at leaders Lechlade.

The visitors threw away a promising position as their middle and lower order collapsed at the Manor Ground to hand the hosts a 40-run victory.

Niel Bredenkamp’s unbeaten 46 during the opening-day victory over Swindon remains the villagers’ highest individual score in this league season to date.

And it was another sorry tale with the bat after Mitchell’s men had dismissed Lechlade for a getable 222 in their 50 overs.

“It’s not been a successful start to the season and the simple reason is that we can’t bat at the moment,’’ said Mitchell.

“We’ve probably got one of the strongest batting line-ups we’ve had for a long time, but it just isn’t happening for us.

“I’m happy with the bowling and fielding, but it’s not working out with the bat.

“We’d like to get into the nets to work on it, but the weather hasn’t really allowed us to yet.’’ Bredenkamp took 3-45 and there were two wickets each for Naeem Khan and Josh Boulton as skipper Joe Breet hit 51, Paul Godding 43 and Asanka Vithanage 41 for Lechlade.

Biddestone had reached 142 for the loss of three wickets, but Dwiane Perry’s departure for 33 heralded a collapse as they crumbled to 182 all out, despite 39 from Bredenkamp and 30 from Andy Flynn.

Tristan Hawkes took 4-29, Luke Sellers and Will Nichols claiming a couple of victims each.

Chippenham’s hopes of a first win of the season were dashed as their clash against hosts Tewkesbury at The Swilgate was cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch.

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